PCD understands that not everyone is comfortable with owning an actual firearm. But why should those feelings affect your personal safety?

Now they no longer have to. With the launch of Perceived Carry Decoys, you may now give off the appearance that you are toting serious heat, while in actuality you have nothing more than a one piece device attached to your hip that is as harmless as a cell phone.

via Perceived Carry Decoys – Perceived Carry Decoys.

This has to be a joke. Please. Someone. Anyone. Tell me this is a joke! It has to be. Surely they aren’t serious. Then again, I can’t be sure. I once had a customer ask if they could buy an ASP brand training gun/placebo, paint it black, and use that to scare away burglars in their home.

PCDCarry.com is a site that allegedly sells what Perceived Carry Decoys…Their term, not mine. The site claims to have been started last year by a United States Marine who is a combat veteran. Their product is intended to “bridge the gap between hardcore everyday gun toting enthusiasts and those who are less willing to have a firearm in their home…” and “…change how society treats one another.” According to the website, PCDs are for:

• …for those who wish to feel protected but do not want the hassle of owning an actual firearm
• PCD’s require no background check or permit since they are not actual firearms
• Store doesn’t have your favorite ammunition in stock?
• Want to wear in a parking lot and stow away in purse once you’ve reached your destination and not fear a discharge?
• Don’t want the fear of young children finding a loaded weapon by mistake?
• Give your unarmed security staff a more authoritative presence
• Shop owners concerned about robbery
• Know someone who could benefit from carrying a handgun, but aren’t safety conscious?
• Don’t want to be approached by a criminal element?

So basically, this thing if for someone who wants to look like they are carrying a gun without having to be responsible for carrying a gun. I am sure there are a bunch of folks who see this as a good thing. You know, deterrence and all that. The problem I have here is that there is no more statistical evidence to support the idea that open carry deters crime than there is to support the idea that open carry makes you a target. Where the problem truly arises however, is that moment that someone decides to target you regardless of whether or not you are carrying. It may not “create” a problem but, it does nothing to solve it either.

I’m still hoping this is just a joke and I’m not in on it. But blog for this site suggests the manufacturer now has a prototype (that looks a lot like a Walther P99 in a Fobus holster. Seems like both of those are likely to result in complaints of patent and or trademark violations. Allegedly this product will be presented to the show, “Shark Tank.” Given the nature of that show, I just can’t see them airing an episode with anything even remotely gun related. It just has to be a joke. But if it’s not…I wish the guy luck. He’s going to need it.

-GM